ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The anterior commissure (AC) is one of the main commissural fibers of the brain. The commissural fibers are involved in bilateral integration and coordination of any normal brain activity. The AC is an important interhemispheric structure that forms a bidirectional communication channel between the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes bilaterally. METHODS: In the present study, we focused on describing the morphology, relationships, and distribution of the AC using diffusion spectrum imaging-based fiber tracking. The tractograms were compared with the findings from gross anatomical dissection of the AC of adult brains. RESULTS: Our findings suggest that the AC found using tracking methods is larger than that found by dissection. CONCLUSIONS: The use of tractography added extensions to the main AC structure.
Subject(s)
Diffusion Tensor Imaging , White Matter , Adult , Brain/anatomy & histology , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Diffusion Tensor Imaging/methods , Humans , Neural Pathways/anatomy & histology , Neural Pathways/diagnostic imaging , Occipital Lobe , White Matter/anatomy & histology , White Matter/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The central retinal artery (CRA) has been described as one of the first branches of the ophthalmic artery.It arises medial to the ciliary ganglion and after a sinuous path within the orbital cavity it penetrates the lower surface of the dura mater that covers the optic nerve, approximately 1 cm behind the eyeball. However, the numerous anatomic descriptions that were made of the CRA have been insufficient or unclear in relation to certain characteristics that are analyzed in the present study. METHODS: An electronic literature search was made in the PubMed database and a cadaver dissection was performed on 11 orbits fixed in formaldehyde. RESULTS: Results were obtained regarding the source, collateral branches, curves, direction, length of the optic nerve, dural perforation site, distance, path and relations, diameter, and area of the central artery of the retina. CONCLUSIONS: Our anatomic study innovates in 2 aspects of the CRA: area and curves. Not only was there a simple count of the number of curves, but it also analyzed the angle presented by each of the curves based on photos obtained in high definition, with a digital program to reduce the margin of error. These curvatures of the CRA were classified according to their spatial disposition within the orbital cavity based on a pattern that was easy to understand. Data were obtained from the area of the CRA on the penetration of the CRA into the dural sheath of the optic nerve.
